3D rapid prototypable tunable peristalsis bioreactor

Abstract

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a bioreactor. In some embodiments, the bioreactor includes an inlet and an outlet, a chamber having a wall and a cell area, and a screw drive. In some embodiments, the inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication via the chamber. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of modeling peristalsis. In some embodiments, the method applying at least one of axial strain, multi-axial strain, or shear stress to a wall within a bioreactor of the present disclosure, and measuring mechanical forces applied on the wall via the screw drive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bioreactor comprising:
 an inlet and an outlet;   a cell chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet;   a screw chamber separated from the cell chamber by a membrane; and   a screw drive disposed within the screw chamber,   wherein the screw drive is configured to apply at least one of axial strain, multi-axial strain, or shear stress to the membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region houses the inlet and the second region houses the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The bioreactor of  claim 2 , wherein the first region is movable along a first variable axis and the second region is movable along a second variable axis. 
     
     
         4 . The bioreactor of  claim 3 , wherein indirect forces caused by rotation of the screw drive move the first region about the first movable axis and the second region about the second movable axis to thereby mimic peristalsis. 
     
     
         5 . The bioreactor of  claim 4 , wherein the peristalsis comprises at least one of multi-axial wall strain or pulsatile fluid flow. 
     
     
         6 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cell chamber is patterned. 
     
     
         7 . The bioreactor of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the cell chamber is a top portion. 
     
     
         8 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the cell chamber is variable. 
     
     
         9 . The bioreactor of  claim 8 , wherein the variable height of the cell chamber is in the form of an arch. 
     
     
         10 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein the screw drive comprises threads. 
     
     
         11 . The bioreactor of  claim 10 , wherein the threads comprise at least one of a height, a thickness, or a pitch to thereby mimic peristalsis. 
     
     
         12 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a peristaltic pump in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The bioreactor of  claim 12 , wherein a combination of the peristaltic pump and the screw drive deliver multiaxial strain and concurrent shear stress to the membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor operably connected to the screw drive to provide axial rotation of the screw drive about an axis. 
     
     
         15 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein the cell chamber and screw drive are configured to emulate kinematics in an organ selected from the group consisting of an intestine, a gastrointestinal tract, a urinary tract, a reproductive system tract, cylindrical organs or tracts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein design of at least one of the drive screw, the cell chamber, and the membrane is informed via computational modeling. 
     
     
         17 . The bioreactor of  claim 16 , wherein the design comprises tunability. 
     
     
         18 . The bioreactor of  claim 16 , wherein the design comprises peristalsis modeling that can mimic mechanical forces observed across multiple organ systems. 
     
     
         19 . The bioreactor of  claim 1 , wherein mechanical forces are applied via the screw drive, and wherein the membrane is operable to receive and transmit the mechanical forces to biological elements. 
     
     
         20 . A method of modeling peristalsis, the method comprising:
 applying, via a screw drive, at least one of axial strain, multi-axial strain, or shear stress to a membrane within a bioreactor; and   measuring, via piezoelectric hydrogels, mechanical forces applied to the membrane via the screw drive.